Monthly Archives: September 2022

I’m still worried about Diablo IV’s cosmetic-only microtransactions

Enlarge / Get your premium currency ready. (credit: Blizzard) A couple of weeks ago, Blizzard published a long-awaited update about its upcoming action role-playing game Diablo IV. The post shared some new information about how seasons will work and explained how the company plans to shake up the metagame by continuously releasing new content. But…

These beetles tuck symbiotic bacteria in “back pockets” during metamorphosis

Enlarge / Certain species of beetle have evolved unusual “back pockets” to safely house symbiotic bacteria during metamorphosis—the only known instance of this among insects. Certain species of beetle have evolved unusual “back pockets” to safely house symbiotic bacteria during metamorphosis—the only known instance of this among insects. It’s part of a mutually beneficial arrangement,…

Four Amazon warehouse workers died on the job within a month

Amazon denies any responsibility for the deaths. Amazon/YouTube Labor critics are pointing a recent string of unrelated Amazon employee deaths as further proof of the company’s exploitative and dangerous working conditions within its many warehouse centers across the country. Between July 13 and August 4, four workers died while on the clock at separate Amazon…

How tech giants are responding to the growing green card backlog

In early August, Amazon’s SVP of human resources, Beth Galetti, penned a blog post urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to expedite the processing of employment-based green cards. The plea was, of course, self-serving — Amazon topped the list of companies applying for green cards in 2019 with 1,500 applications, according to U.S. Department…

Tesla hiring “high-volume” recruiters in Quebec

Tesla is looking to hire recruiters in Quebec for a “high-volume” effort indicating the automaker’s plans to grow in Canada. A job posting by the global battery-electric brand seeks “an extraordinary recruiter” with “strong business acumen, a passion for their craft, and a genuine commitment to providing an unforgettable candidate experience.” CEO Elon Musk said…

Mobile banking apps reportedly leaked thousands of digital fingerprints

Five unnamed mobile banking apps using the same third-party AI-based digital identity SDK may have leaked over 300,000 biometric digital fingerprints, according to a report by researchers at Symantec. Outsourcing the digital identity and authentication component of an app is a common development pattern according to researchers, as the complexities of providing different forms of…